Fish ladder assembly



June 7, 1938. B. L. PETERSON FI SH LADDER AS SEMBLY Filed May 25, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet l //v v /v TOR Ber: A, P625276 07L! H/s ATTORNEY.

I June 7,' 1938.

B. L. PETERSON FISH LADDER ASSEMBLY Filed May 25, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 flvvewran Ben L,F%Ze 76071,, i

HIS ATTORNEY.

June 7, B PETERSON v V FISHLADDER ASSEMBLY Filed May 25 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I'N VE/V TOP H/s Arron/v5 r.

June 7, 1938.

B. L. PETERSON FISH LADDER ASSEMBLY Filed May 25, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 H/S ATTORNEY.

June 7, 1938. B. PETERSON FISH LADDER ASSEMBLY Filed May 25, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 5

INVEN ran Ben L. PeZ'e rip-072 H/s Arron/v5 Y..

Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 2,119,555 FISH LADDERASSEMBLY Ben L. Peterson, Portland, ,Oregn, assignortothe Government of the United States of America, represented by the Secretary of ,War

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 19.28; 370 0. G. 757) This invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon. V

5 This invention relates to improved means for controlling the water level, quantity, and velocity through the upstream ends of fish ladders.

The invention is particularly adapted to fish ladders constructed to enable fish to proceed up rivers or streams obstructed by dams subject to considerable variation of forebay elevation. Many rivers, as those on the western coast of the United States, are spawning places of awardromous fish, such as salmon, whose habit it is to proceed upstream to the smaller tributaries where conditions are favorable for spawning These rivers are likewise of such a nature as to provide abundant water flows for power, navigation, and/or irrigation purposes when adequately dammed. However, the nature of the terrain and of the meteorological conditions are frequently such that dams are required which provide for wide fluctuations of forebay elevation and present great difficulties to the upstream migration of fish.

In a, majority of these rivers the rate of flow has a high seasonal variation. Consequently, the forebay or headwater elevation of the m dam reservoir will vary accordingly and a suitable means of controlling the height of the water level at the upstream end of the fishway is of vital importance, in order that the rate of flow therethrough may be maintained as desired. In-

.. general, the amount of water diverted for fishway use should be held to as small a percentage of the available flow as possible, to conserve the water impounded by the dam; this can be accomplished by control of the flow through the fishway. For the successful passage of fish through a fishway it is necessary that the rate of flow of water therethrough in general be maintained within the limits lying between a minimum fiow sufiicient to lure fish into the fishway and a maximum beyond which the fish experience difiiculty in ascending the fishway.

With that heretofore recited in view, it is the object of the present invention to provide means for maintaining a desired hydraulic gradient'in that portion of a fish ladder lying withinthe range of variations of forebay elevations.

1 Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the rate of fiow of water through a fish ladder may be controlled. I

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means whereby submerged openings through the upper weirs of a fish ladder may be effected, the areas'and positions of which may be varied within the scope of the construction.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for draining the fishway to facilitate inspection, cleaning, and/or repairs.

Other objects and objects relating to the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts will hereinafter appear in the description to follow. I

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding parts are indicated by similar reference characters: i

Figure l is a plan view of the apparatus of the present invention incorporated in a preferred construction of a fishway. with the machinery, driveways, etc., omitted from a portion'of the device, to more readily disclose the'construction and arrangement of t e various parts;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of Figure 1 taken substantially on line 22 and in the direction indicated;

Figure 3 is an oblique projection of the invention in which machinery, machinery supports, etc., have been omitted and portions of the construction broken away to clarify the construction and operation of the device;

, Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a fishway embodying the invention; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary oblique projection of a portion of the invention showing the use of apertured members to provide submerged openings through the segmental gates.

The device comprises a floor (I), substantially level at its upstream end (2) and for some distance therebelow, then dropping by a suitable gradient to its downstream end (3). Walls (4) and (5) extend upwardly from the fioor (I) to an elevation above that of the maximum headwater as at (6), and define the lateral boundaries of the device. The walls may be integral'with an extension of the main 'dam structure (1) through which the fishway passes.

walls (4) and (5) at its upstream end and extends for a short distance downstream as to (9).

It is to be understood that the use of a'median wall or walls does not constitute a necessary part This view is shown 7 45 I A medianwall (8) is disposed between the 15 g arranged to actuate theregulalting gates;(.l2) as I Vertical-aligned grooves IlD are 'provide'd'in the walls ('4) and 5) and in the median wall '(8) "atthe upstream end of the 'fishway. VA pluralityof emergency stop 'l0gs":( II are adapted for I placement in the aligned'grooves (Il Dp'toprovide 'means whereby the flow of water through the fishway may be stopped. 'The grooves/(I) are preferably flared at their uppermost ends to facilitate the introduction thereinto of the-stop' logs (II)."

Vertical aligned grooves (I3) aredisposede in 'i the vertical walls (4), (5) and (a). Regulating gates (l2) are freely suspended in thefg'rooves (I3)" so as to transversely span the 'fishway. Suitable mechanisms as'motor drives '(I'I') are I through chains (I6), which are "trained Covers suitable drive' sprockets.

free ends of chains I6),

through the flshway, recesses I5) mayibe pro- ;Vided for;the-;chains' and counterweightsr 'Verticalyaligned; grooves (19) are located in theqwalls ('4)',,(l5) and (8):,and are positioned adjacentqtontheegrooves I3 A plurality of' stacked segmental gate units I 8).;jare disposed inlgrooves (I9), and arranged substantially par a'I-lelto andcontiguous 'withthe regulating gates (I 2).HThe 'segmentalgate unitsare; preferably each of a height somewhat less than that of the l regulatinggatesjfQIi);and are 'freely movable vertically in'grooves (IS); The height tolWhiCh ithesepseg menta-l gate units :are stacked is def :pendent; upon the headwater elevation The structure recited rinr'th'is and in the preceding paragraph 7 :constitutes in feifect r the upstream weirj of the fish ladder structure oftheflshway.

correspondingly, vertical;v aligned grooves' 13a?" are rdisposed in the yertical walls-l4) (5) and'(8). Regulating gates (IZa) are treely suspended in thegrooves (-I3a) so as to transversely spant-he fishway; 1 suitablemechanisms as mo tor drives (IIa) are arranged to actuate-the regulating gates (I2a) gas through chains; =(I'6a), I

gates (IZa);

whichare trained over suitable drive sprockets. Suitable counterweights (I la) i-maybe provided, attached to the free ends of chains (16a), and operating in recesses, (-I;5a)

- Vertical" aligned grooves :(Illzi) are -located in the walls (-4),,,g(5)' and 8):; and; are positioned! Afpluralityf of adjacent to, the :groove, I 3a)". stacked segmental gate units; (IBa) i is disposed in grooves (Mia); and arranged substantially parallel and cQntiguouswith-the regulatinggates '(-'I2a)';giThe segmental gate units'are' preferably -each'of a height-somewhat'less' than that of the regulating gates; and are freely movable vertically in "grooves I9a) these segmental gate units-arefstacked is dependent'upon water levelelevation' in pool (26) ;'Ihe structure recited in this and inthe'preceding paragraph;'constitutes in efiect the next to g the-upstream weir'ofthe fishf ladder structure of, V

the fishw ay. The structure of median wall -(8 v :needhotfextenddownstream further than sufiicient, to support grooves I 9a) Downstream from the median all {6811a plu- -rality;:of .piers (20); ,(20a); mayz be vertically t,i-:(2zla )lserveito :support theuppe'r ends of :thepiers'andto tie thempin' with the side walls (4) Earl-d6); as well as to provide walkways.-= Vertical 'a'lig'nedgrooved"members (22).; (22a) are 7 aifixed to Wa(4@)5fifid=(59: and tovthe piers (2D) Suitable counter-1 weights (I 4)' may be provided, attached to the To prevent leaping fish from possible'injury against the chains in passing The height to "which :1og-weirs 6-23); (23a')-",T;(23b)'.'

elevation-drop to the minimum, 7 at :which "point" I (ZIlal. 'Stop log weirs (23), (23a) are disposedjin the grooved members" (222, (2211). V

' Downstream from: the structure recited above (24b), (240), etc separate adjacentjpoolst and are provided alongrtheir upper edges with adjust-' able weirs for controlling the depth 7 of the pools (25'), (25a), (251)), etc.:

@It is believedfrom (the description heretofore V the :fishwaycomprises a series of pools (25))" (25(1), (251)), etc., arrangedon a suitable hydraulic gradient Dividing walls.(24),.(24a),"

giverithata clearrunderstanding may behad'of the structure and. of the assembly of the appa ratus constituting. the present invention. The

operation'of the apparatus as a whole is as here-d5 inafterf described. j 7' r Let lit'be assumed that the elevation a the headwater level is as shown at (6) fin'Figurevl.

position, retained by'grooves (I 0):, Ordinarily the emergency stop logs are all removed from across the 'fishway; Thepurposeof-the emer gency stop'logs is to-prevent the flow of water through the fishway'flto. facilitate inspection; cleaning, and/or repairs; and to be effective the A few emergency 'stop logs (I I)' are shown 'in stacko'f stop logs must extend above the eleva tion of the'headw ater level (6). ,gencystop' logs-'(I I) may be maneuvered by'any suitable means not here shown.

4 The segmental gateuriits (I8) are stacked to a height somewhat below that of the headwaters level. (6) and'the height of regulatinggates (I 2 is adjustedasby the'mechanismflp'!) to givea The emerdifference in elevation between the headwater j level and the water level (26 on the downstream' in side of the regulating gates (I2);such as to accommodate the migrating fish, This "constitutes the final ups t ream -step of the fish ladden, correspondingly, the

(I 8d) "arestacke dgto a height somewhat below;

the water level of thepoo tween the water level (26) and the water level (21) on the downstream side of the regulating upstream step of the fish ladder. I V

I The segmental gate units (I8) m anipulated by any,suitable means not here been attainedas in elevation in'the'water 1e formed-on-eachpside of the stoplog weirs.

vels' of the pools :o r 'rnentalfi gate units v '40 I. l (26) and the regulat i gates (-I2a) areadjusted as by-the mecha-' 'nism (IIalito giveadifference in elevation be,-

This constitutes the'next to final (Is i are V v The stop log WelIS are stackedin'position'by 5 any suitable'means until such nel'evauon' has will give a desired difference In'general, s mallvariations of forebay eleva- 'tion can be compensated for by manipulationof thejregulating gates (I2), (I2a), ,Shouldthe forebay elevation vary by? an: amount greater than can be accommodated by the regulating gates (12), (I211), th'efhe'ight of the 's'tack'of. sege V mental gate units I8); (Illa) ,-can be'changedfto meet the conditionby the addition or removal of of the forebay elevation will" require correspond arsuitable number of unitsgExtensive variationsing changes' in' the "height of the-stack of stoprr the-floor. (Ii-would, be submerged: a distance just suflici'e'nt to permit the passage'of fish'there Should the forebay v removed and ther'egulating gates -(=I2), (=I:2'a)f, would.be lifted'clearpi gthe'water; i

Under some circumstances it may be desirable to provide submerged apertures for the passage of certain varieties of fish through the fishway. Such submerged openings as (29), (29a) may be provided through any of the, segmental gates and/or stop log weirs by the substitution of suitable apertured members as shown in Figure 5.

Preferably the upstream end (2) of the floor (I) of the fishway has an elevation somewhat less than the minimum headwater elevation and is preferably substantially level to facilitate the passage of the fish at times of low headwater; the level floor also facilitates inspection, repair and/or the removal of debris.

While the structure shown and described is the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the general structure, arrangement, and combination of parts may be altered by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structure of the class described, a dam having a forebay and a tailrace, a fishway having a lower and an upper end and disposed about said dam, a portal disposed at the upper end of said fishway, a pair of upwardly extending substantially parallel walls fianking said portal, a pair of vertical aligned grooves disposed one in each of said Walls, a second pair of vertical aligned grooves disposed one in each of said walls and adjacent to the first named pair of grooves, a plurality of stacked segmental gate units disposed in one of said pairs of grooves, and a regulating gate disposed in the other one of said pairs of grooves.

2. In a structure of the class described, a dam having a forebay and a tailrace, a fishway having a lower and an upper'end and disposed about said dam, a portal disposed at the upper end of said fishway, a pair of upwardly extending walls flanking said portal, a pair of vertical aligned grooves disposed one in each of said walls, a second pair of vertical aligned grooves disposed one in each of said walls and adjacent to the first named pair of grooves, a plurality of stacked segmental gate units disposed in one of said pairs of grooves, a regulating gate disposed in the other one of said pairs of grooves, shielded counterpoise means coacting with said regulating gate, and power means for actuating said regulating gate.

3. In a structure of the classdescribed, a dam having a forebay and a tailrace, a fishway having a lower and an upper end and disposed about said dam, a portal disposed at the upper end of said fishway, a pair of upwardly extending walls flanking said portal, a plurality of pairs'of spaced vertical aligned grooves disposed one of each pair in each of said walls, a second plurality of pairs of vertical aligned grooves disposed one of each pair in each of said walls and adjacent to the first named grooves, a plurality of segmental gate units disposed in a plurality of stacks in one set of said plurality of pairs of grooves, a plurality of regulating gates disposed one in each of the remaining pairs of grooves, shielded counterpoise means coacting with said regulating gates and power means for actuating said regulating gates,

and an adjustable weir disposed within said portal in advance of said segmental gates.

4. In combination with a dam having a forebay and a tailrace, a fishway effecting open communication between the forebay and the tailrace, a portal disposed at the forebay end of the fishway, a substantially level floor disposed at said portal and extending some distance toward the tailrace end of the fishway, a pair of walls flanking the said portal and extending upwardly from said floor, spaced pairs of adjacent grooves vertically disposed in one of said walls, complementary spaced pairs of grooves disposed in the other one of said walls and in transverse alignment with the first named spaced pairs of grooves, a plurality of spaced segmental gates disposed one each in each of said pairs of grooves and complementary pairs of grooves, a plurality of regulating gates disposed one each in one each of the remaining grooves and complementary grooves, means for counterpoising the regulating gates, power means for actuating the regulating gates, and an adjustable weir spaced beyond the segmental gates.

BEN L. PETERSON. 

